Plate clamp for printing machines



`Mau'ch 26, 1935'. A. LUNDQUIST ET AL 1,995,994

PLATE CLAMP FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed oct. 8, y1951 4 sheets-sheet 1 Air-rv.

March 26, 1935. A, LuNDQuls'r ET AL 11,995,994

PLATE CLAMP FOR PRINTING MACHINES Filed oct. s, 1931v 4 sheets-sheet 2f A. I -UNDQUIST ETAL 1,995,994,

MACHINES .March 26; 1935.

PLATEv CLAMP FOR PRINTING Filed oet. 8, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 q. m NVENTQRS March 26, 1935. A. LuNDQulsT E- AL PLATE CLAMP FOR PRIINTINGl MACHINES Filed oct. "s, 1931 l 4 sheets-sheet 4 .M25-L l AT1-'Y a E y/WW 9. 4 m. -L- n PLA'rgE.; CLAMP Foa PaiNTING MACHINES Arvid Lunaquist, New York, and` Afxelf o! y IL Andersen, Brooklyn, FLY., assignors to R; Hoe a &C0.,- Inc., `Newt York; N.' Y., a corporation of NewYork; Irving Trust Company, permanenty lAppm;anni;Y (retomarr s; i931, fsaiial` nogserssz y .eslolaimsi' (.01. 1v1- 378) The presentinventionrelates to means for securing printing plates to form carrying memhers i The invention hasifor its special object, Athe pro- .3` vision of a cl'an'ripingy mechanism .by means of which a' plat`e mayv bequicklyfisecuredvto thev plate supp,o`rt and firmly vheld inposition4 duringv the' operation ofthe ,rria'chine-fvr Itiis also an object of the inventionrto' proi vide ai plate lclamping mechanism of generally improved construction,` whereby the devicetwill be simple, durable'. andi inexpensive in construe--` tion, as well, as. c0nvenient,.practical, service-VA able and eiiicient in2 its use. l* .5 With the foregoing and rothenohjects in view. which will appear as the. description; proceeds,

the invention residesy inl thewcombination and arrangement of parts, and inthe details of conn struction hereinafter described; and claimed, itbeingV understood that Various changes-inthe pre;

oise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may bemade withintheA scope of whatV is claimed. without departing from they spirit of 1 the invention.

view of a portion of a form ci'rlinderfof` a v,printingmachine, showing portions of-the mechanism'v that constitute theA invention in Figure 1 with the parts in the completely. locked position; v v

Figure 3 is a View similar,- to Figure Ztviththefparts in the partially unlocked.,position;A

as seen on` the linel-l of. Figure 1 andvinthe direction of. the arrow, the, parts 4being,showniny the unlocked position.

Figure 5' is a ,vertical sectionalfyiew ofthe mech-,

anism Aas seen on'ther line 5--5 of Figurel` and in the direction of the arrow;`V

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional ,.viewf oi themech anisrn as seen on the linel 6 6. of Figure 3V andV in Athe direction .ofi the. arrow; u

Figure' '7` is a detailed .vi w showingaiportion of the thrust linkt;y

Figure` 8 isa sectionalfview of@ the ithrustdink on the linee- 8 of Figure? as'seenin thefdirectiono'fthearrom y v FigureQ is a vplan view., partly broken-away. and partlyinsectioii, showing A the lockin`g. ,carn; i

Figure 1'0"isian edgewis'e viewof vthe' lockingcam. as seen inthe direction pf arrow lOoffliigureBifv Figure 11`` isadetailed',view'isliowingra device `the plate when desired.

In the4 drawings. which show.- the preferred embodiment of the inventionjliig'ure lV is .an end Figure 2 is a plan View of the mechanism shownf Figure-4 is a sectionaLview of the'mechanism` her by vmeans of a set` screwI 44. rod y y n securedto the Screw plus f13--erg1d may D9 extended, n

'that indignes the relative Vposit-10x15 inf-certain partsv of ythe mechanismirrhenjaplate is locked;

Oetker-Support., y i l, n

Referring to the drawings, lli indicates a form cylinder of avprinting machine that is secured ,tot y5 a shaft l5,y suitably-supported for rotation by" j means notslfiown. A printing plate lllravingiiaq beveled surface `1'7, is secured to thefeylinderqby means 0f a plate clame lihat is movablelnszthr] wie on the cylinderso that it may b e' freed from 10 A linaccordance with thev inventien consist cfa clamp actuating shaft 19,havingjaff v squared head 21, adapted to receivea suitafelejv form of -wrench., i The shaft 19 is'providedjwith f a key 2 2, whereby it is vsecuredto a cam-23-pland toggle arms 24 and 25 arelopsely supported on"y theshaft l9 The toggle armscarryY agtgog'gl pin 2 6? on y which afthrust linkfr27 ispVOtede an abutment pin 2 Sfwhich is securedj to arr abut;-

rment block-2 9fthat is suitably'slotted to providef Vworlfzing space 4for the movement of thethrust lilik; erwin-7.10 hereinafter explained.- Thezabutes ment block 29 is formed.withtonguesamene toslide in groove'sforinedin the'cyl' d andy is screw; threadedtoreceive zanfadjust rod-31-, whichturnsfreely in alegre 325v 'li'headfv 1 justing'` rod 31, issquaredfown@onejendat331cm30 receive asuitableformof wrench, andV is formed rotation. i The plates 35 and v 3 6 are-securedtqtheg cylinder. and .clamped together Abyfrneans f of bolts 37, which are screwI threadedinto thev cylinder.

A collarfis securedto the opposite endofgthel 40 adjusting rod v3 1 andengagesgwithafinished surface 39 on=the cylinder 1 4-and acts to resist pu-llvv fof the'abutmentlolock29.YY i

TheY plateclamp 18' is l securedto a clamp fheadf 41 'whichisnaed tesinemmeyunderia The 'i145 Aclamp head is bored to Xfornief-spring;chainloerj 42,` 4and afportion` of 4the-,chamber nearthe-Quter `endthereof is threadedftoreceive afscrewplugj 43 .thatmay be lockedin-position--in thecham vto .operate other-plate clamps, ot shown, in

accordancewithiwell known practice A'plngerl'isarra fged to slidef` L w spring'lchahiber is'lfprdvidedjwith Y plunger.

, the ,feci`v other end ofthe thrust linie being pivoted. n"

rod 47 integrin therewith. A bore 4s .is provided in the screw plug 43`into which the plunger rod 47 is fitted to slide, the bottom of the chamber e i ybeing adapted to engage with the end of the plu against the screw plug 43, and the other` end:

as shown in Figure 5.

A coil spring 49 is Wound about the plunger. rod

47 and arranged so Athat onevof itsA ends 4abuts agains'tthe plunger 46. L

' Theplunger 46 is grooved at 51 to cooperate with the peripheral lsurface of theV cam 23,`and

the bottom of the chamber42 is adapted to provide lan abutment for the outersurface of the plunger 46 when the clamp mechanism is`moved tothe unlocked position. Elongated openings 52 and 53 are provided in the clamp head 41 to perf mit a limited relative motion therein of the shaft 19 a direction parallel to theaxis ofthe cylinder.

AThe cam 23 is cut aWay'as indicated at 54ito vprovide clearance for an ear 55 formed on the 'e thrust link 27, and is formed Wtha groove 56 away as indicated at 59 to provideclearance for the projecting portion of the cam 23, as shown in.

Figure 4, this cut away portion extending through to the holeforthe toggle pin 26,'in the forinj of an opening 61, as shown Figure 8,.th`e pin- 26 being alsotreduced in diameter at the center portion to provide clearance for the movement" of `the'cam Vwhen the plateclamp 'is moved toy the full open position. r v

looking 'device adapted to resist rotation of the shaft 19 is` provided andcomprises a notched collar 62 secured toithe pin 19, and a cupped i locking washer 63`having anotched inner surfacey is "adapted` tofengage with the collar 62, and; is;

biased toward engagement with "the collar-byr Y faispring 64. It will be seen that when a suitably t. formed wrench isplaced on the squared head l 21 tofrotate the shaft 19, that the locking.Washery will be pressed down and disengaged -from'nthe notched collar 62, permittingthe shaft 19 tobe turned freely;` and whenl thehwrenchis removed, the'fnotched :surfaces are engaged and prevent the turning of vthe shaft.'v 1 t i An indicating device is provided, the function t of which Will be hereinafter explained, and preferably vcomprises a dial 65 'that is rotatably supported in a-recess in the plate clamp 18 by means i of Ia screw 66,? and provided With an index mark 67 that under some conditions, `is in alignmentY with asimilar mark 68 Von the plate clamp. The t dial-65 isrotated by means 'of'ak pin 69 secured to the plunger 46, aislot 71 being provided in theclamp head 41 'to permit'motion of the pin` 69 'as the plunger 46 ismoved relative to the j clamp head 41., v"A guard 72 isv secured toV the clamp head 41Vby means of a`screw73 vand a 129 by means of thescrews 75.1.v t.

Inoperation, assuming the Aparts' tobe in the cover plate 74 is secured'to the labutment*block unlocked position as shown in Figure 4, turning 'fthe shaft'19 in aclockwise direction VWill'result yin turning the Vcam 23 into engagement `vir/ith the` ear, and moving the clamp head 41 with the 7p1ate ciampis toward the piate. EAS the distance between/theshaft 19 and the abutmentpin 28 f prisingjtogglelarms24jand' 251 and the thrust 75 link 27 will'move tothe position shown in Figure is thus increased, ,the ltoggle `mechanism 'coml 3, in whchthe shaft 149', the toggle' pin-4 26 and the abutmentk pin 28 arev lsubstantially in align i ment, but thepin 26 is preferablyA slightly` to theleft, as shown in Figure'3,.thusflocking the` toggle. Furtherrotation of the shaft 19 moves to that shown in 'Figure' 2, during.. which,y time,

the cam 23-from the position rshovvn'in`r Figure 3 the spiral portion of the cam face `acts on the plunger 46 to'compressfthe'spring 49, andthe rabutment 58on the cam 23 beingin engagement 'with the end of the ribv 57, the togglemeohanism cannot beopened until `thecam lis rotated councompresses the spring '49 and puts aV spring ten-5g vsion von the clamp which will permit it to move still further totighten the plate should there be any tendency of-theclamp tojembed itself into -the ,plate or f or the plate to otherwise-become 100se k plate'clamps which will tendto keepA the clamps a means for quickly movin'gf lthe plate clamp, into V)there be a tendency forfthe plate to become loose;

By turning the adjusting rod 31, it is possible t ,A to shift the position ofthe abutment block`29 -In theembodiment of the inventionshowma and adjustl the locking mechanism ing continued until the parts `are in the relative the cam thengrcauses theprojecting portion Vof Y the cam surfaceadjacenttov the cut-away portion 54 to engage the ear r55 "of thethrust link tight. The mechanism herein disclosed, providesv engagement Withthe plate, tighteningthe clampy and.thereafter building upj a spring{follow-upl t pressure which Will keep `theclamp tight should zo.: Y

Stereotype plates `are made -ofa relatively soft'l metal and it hasbeen found that'on long"v runs, y

theyv will sometimes become loose,`r andl vhence ,v it is desirable to provide aifollowfup motion'in theQ l lIn loosening `theV plate vclamp from the plate, Y the shaft `19k is turnedcounterclockwise,l the, initial motion acting to'rotate kthe cam 23,"per-e"` Vmitting the plunger 46 to'recede, the motion'ibe- Vposition shown in Figure 3. Further rotation 'of `274 and open thetoggle, final motion of thefcam' acting. to withdraw theplate clamp'by direct y pressure of the 55- A I f t Y 'I'he indicatingdial` 65 is operated by motion cam against .the back: of the earsorti of the plunger 46 'relative tothe plate clampl 18 f and is preferably so arranged that.when"the parts are inthe position jshown in Figure 5, the

index mark 67 on thejdial will register with the index .mark 68 on the clamp, thus indicating that; the plunger 46` has been moved forwardjin Vthe i' clamp head 41, therequisite distance'tofinsure I that should theprinting plate loosenytheclamp head and theclamp'vvill move forward under r.the pressure of the spring-49 asumcient distancejto insure maintaining pressure `of, theA clamp against thepiate. f Itwiii ttumierstomil triatthe piunger 46 is maintainedinrv a fixed position by they right,` as seen in 'on'` the plate.

tion of the index'marks on" the dial and-correos toggle mechanism andthe cam, and the'spr'i'ng 49 is constantly urging the `clamp head 41 tothe. e

Figure 5 to maintainr-pressure 1 Should there'be anyvariationin theflengthjofe" x the p1ates,'this would be indicated by the posil1 tion' Could 'be madeloyV 'adjusting `the rtodlsi; l

What 5 We claim is:

printingv plate on the supportja plate clamp on 1. In a: printing machine, a platesumiorua.A ,3;

Arotatable lmember.

:the support, .a clamp lhead secured` to the plate :clamps l a .clamp f actuating i mechanism adapted =to move .thefclamp--on the support, a springop- `erably connected between the actuating mechanism and theclamp'head, `and .an indicatingde- `vice operably `connected :to the `clamp headl and arranged to `indicate the 4position of the actu-- 'ating .mechanism `relative to ftheclamp.,

. (2.;In 'a printing machine, a plate support, a printingplate on 'ther support, a plate clamp on the support, zagclamp actuating member, a xrst means operably connected-to `the actuating vmember' adaptedtowmove vthe :clamp `tovvard the Jplate-'at 1a relatively high speed on an initial movement of the actuating member, anda sec- .ond means `operably `connected to the .rotatable memberadaptedto continue the motion of -the .clamp -to vclamping yengagement,With the plate atfaf-slowerlspeed v.on further -movement of the :3. In `a ,printing machine, vaI platey support,;a

uprintinggplate on .the support, `a plate clamp Von the support, a `clamp lactuating member, a

toggle :mechanism operably connected to the actuating-:member yadaptedgto move the clamp Atoward the platev atl a relatively high speed 'on initial movement ot the actuating memben a cam radapted 'to move the clampV to'clampingv yengagement Withthe vplate at a slower speed'on further -movernent of said ,member, and a spring as sociated With the said toggle and cam and arranged to maintain pressure of lthe rclamp eventhoughl the plate'yields,v l l 4. r.In a printing machine, a plate support, a printing plate on the support, alplate .clamp on the support, a rotatable clampactuating member,a rstmeans operably connected tothe actuating member adapted yto* move the clamp toward vthe ,plate at a relatively high .speed on initial movement of the actuating member, av

second means loperably, connected tothe rotatableimember .adapted to `continue the motion of the clamp to clamping engagement with the` a cam in engagement Withthe second` springv abutment, means to rotate the cam, and a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said vmeans .and secured to the support.

6. In a printing machine, a plate support adapted to receive a printing plate, a plate {clamp movable into and out of engagement with the plate, a first spring abutment secured to the clamp, a spring, a ysecond'spring "abutment, a cam in engagement With the second spring abutment, means to rotate the cam, and a toggle mechanism operatively connected to said means and adjustably secured to the support. l

7. In a printing machine, a plate support adapted to receive a printingr plate, al plate clamp movable into and out of engagement with the plate, a toggle device secured to the support and operable to impart a relatively rapid motion to the plate clamp to move it into engagement with the plate, a cam connected to the toggle device and to the plate clamp and operable to impart a relatively slow motion to the plate clamp to secure 8.v In a printing machine, rvacplatesupport ment, a cam rotatable 'With respect to yth'evtoggle springfin engagement Iwith the plunger 4and .adapted to iexertgaV thrustto hold the clampv into engagement with the plate.

`the plate in position, and .a Ameansffor.operat- .fing the-toggleand the-'cam'.l

mechanism, a plungerengaging the cam, and av 9. vIn a. printing machine, a plate supportr adapted to `receive aprinting plate, a platefclarnp moirfablev into and out 'of engagement with ythe plate, an abutment adjustably secured to the sup'-` abutment, a camy rotatable, with respect to the toggle mechanism, a plunger engaging the -oam,-a

"spring in engagement with the ,plunger ,and adapted to exerta thrust to hold the .clampinto' rengagement with the-plate, and means for adjustaporta toggle mechanism Ipivotally secured tothe ingfthe, position ofthe abutment yto clarnp` ,plates of various sizes. l y i i ,A

10. AIn a rprinting machine, a plate-support Yadaptedto receive aiprintingplatefa plate `clamp .movablej-'into and out of engagement 'with the f plate, anabutment adjustab-ly secured tofthe support, atoggle mechanismpivotally secured to the abutment, a cam rotatable withf-respecttothetog-v -gle mechanism, a plunger engagingthacam, ia, 4spring in engagement; withv the plunger; and

adapted toegert av thrust-to hold ithe clamp into engagement with the plate, lmeans `foradjusting 11. In a printing `machine,

movable into and ,i outVV of engagement with" the plate, an abutmentfadjustably securedto the sup-v port, a toggle mechanism pivotally secured tofthe l abutment, a cam rotatable With respecttofthe'r toggle mechanism, a plunger engaging the cam,a springy in engagement with the .plunger and adapted to exert a thrust to hold the clampinto" engagement with the plate, means for adjusting the position of the abutment to clamp -plates of Various sizes, a shaft for rotating thecam kand operating the toggle, and means for locking the shaft against rotation. j

12. In a printing machine, a plate support adapted to receive a printing plate, a plate clamp,

movable into and outv of engagement-With the plate, an abutment secured tothe supporta togglemechanism having one member pivotally sef plunger engaging the cam, a spring in engagement with the plungertand adapted to exert a thrust to hold the clamp into engagement With the plate, f v

vcured to the abutment and another memberse-v, y cured to a shaft, a cam rotatable on the shaft,a

and an indicating device adaptedto show the position of the plunger relative to the clamp.

13. In a printing machine, a plate' support adapted to receive a printing plate, a plate clamp movable intoand out of Vengagement With the plate, an actuating mechanism including atoggle and a cam' operable to move the clamp, and

a spring interposed between the actuating mechf anism and the clamp and arranged to maintain pressure rof the clamp against the plater if Vthe plate yields. c f

14. In a printing machine a plate support adapted to receivea printing plate, a plate clamp movable into and out of engagement with the bined'aaction of the `togglemechanism, and the cam,- and means adaptedy to maintain pressure of YplateQalshaft rotatable bya `'tool tomove the.' v5 clamp, meansinterposedv between the shaft andv 15.*In a printing machine,

thecla'mp and arranged to maintain pressure of the clamp against the plate if the plate yields,

s and means cooperating withfthe tool and acting vauto'rnatically to `lock the shaft against rotation VWhenthe tool is removedpand to unlock the `movable'into engagement with the plate by the combined action of the `toggle mechanism andthe Cam t i l v Y '16; .In a printing machine,V a plate suppqrt adapted toreceivea printing plateau abutment,

secured to the.support,`a toggle mechanism pivotally secured to the abutment, an actuating shaft,

-afcam securedto-the shaft and cooperating with v the toggle mechanism, and a plate clamp movable intoengagement with the plate by the rotation of the actuating shaft.

1'7. Inga'. ,printingl rnachine, a'plate support adaptedk to receive aprinting plate, anabutment secured to the support, a toggle mechanism pivotally securedto the abutment, a cam cooperating Withthetoggle mechanism, a plate .clamp movable` intoV engagement withthe plate by the comthe clamp on the plate if the plate yields. y

V18. The combination with a printing cylinder having' a printing plate thereon, of` a plate clip longitudinally slidable `on the cylinder,` means iorp'rojecting' thek Clip-td-eng-ageand lock said 'printing plate on the printingcylinder, and an indicator slidable With the saidl'plate clip which will 'indicate by` itsposition the locking engagement'of the plate clip with the said printing plate.' i f, l

`i-,99\5`,99`4` y y, K Y

A19..'11'1@ combination wana-printing cylinder k Y having a printing `plate thereon,'ofa plate clip :plate andthe spring thrust` exerted hereon.

slidable'onfthe cylinder, means 4forrnoving the clip into engagement `with the plate' and for lex- `ertin'ga spring thrust 'to' theclp, and means for visually indicating byfits position'thatthe spring thrust has been exerted to the clip. i

` 20. The-combination witha printing cylinder having a printing plate'thereomofa platel'clip slidable` on the cylinder, means forrnoving Athe vclip vto locking engagement with the plate and for exertingk a spring thrust totheV clip `'after it has engaged the plate, and an indicator `visually indcating that the spring thrust-has been exerted I to theclip. 'f l y 21. The combinationk with al printing lcylinder having ai printing platethereon, of a plate'clip slidable von the cylinder, clip operating means` Vvwhich by aninitial movement moves the clipV into locking engagement with the platel and by a subsequent overmotion -exerts a spring'thrustito the` clip, andan indicator operated-by theovermotion to indicate by its position thatI the clip has been moved into lockingen'gagement withthe 22. The vcombination withV afprinting cylinder "having a printing`V plate thereon, of a platefclip i slidable on the cylinder, meansfor moving ,the

clip into engagement-r with theplate and for eX- ert-ing a ,spring thrustto the clip, andmeans for spring thrust exerted to the clip. Y i i 23. The combinationV withv a'printing cylinder having a printing plate thereon,of a'pl'ate clip slidable on thecylinder, means for moving 'the clip into engagement with the plate 'and for exerting a I spring thrust to kthe clip, and means for visually indicating by `its positionthat arp'redete'rmined spring thrust has been exerted to the clip.

LUNDQUIST. j Axane, H. ANDnRsnN.

30 o visually indicatingby'its positionthe degree of 

